Saturday, August 21

Milestone Birthday Party

There are a few "big" birthdays in life that deserve special recognition: 16th, 21st, 30th, 50th, and so on! In fact, one of the nicest things we can do for each other is to remember and celebrate birthdays, especially these milestone birthdays, with family and friends.

This month's assignment is to plan a milestone birthday party for someone special in your life. To give you some ideas for what to do to make this party special, I am going to share some memories and pictures from my favorite party that I ever threw for someone: my grandmother's 80th birthday party. It was just last year!

My grandparents live in Vermont, and with the help of my mother and her three siblings, we planned a surprise party for my grandmother's 80th birthday. All of her family was able to be there, and all of her local friends managed to keep the secret for three long months of planning. And she sure was surprised! Here is a picture of her when she first arrived:

We wanted to add some "special touches" to the party, so we collected old pictures from family and friends and put them into giant collage frames. We told guests to bring memories and photographs instead of gifts, and we collected these momentos in a keepsake box that my grandmother now keeps on her side table. Here is a picture of my aunt giving a toast. You can see the collage frames behind her:

We also created a book of "Momisms," or the sayings and bits of advice that she used to say when her children and grandchildren were growing up. When printed with old photographs, the book made a nice keepsake and made everyone laugh! I then typed up all the "Momisms" onto favors and, with candy attachments, distributed them to all the guests. I got the advice: "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" and "You better eat it or you're going to wear it!" Finally, my aunt brought along her singing group and they serenaded my grandmother with her favorite Frank Sinatra songs, and of course, Happy Birthday! Here are some pictures of my grandmother's book, myself with my aunt and mother (holding up our "Momism" favors), and the chorus:

When we talked to my grandmother after the party, she said her favorite part was what everyone had said in their toasts and written on their keepsake notes. After all, if you have lived 80 years, you have touched a lot of lives and it is nice to feel appreciated and loved on such a milestone birthday.